Saturday, January 23, 2016

Saturday scenes and scenery: King's Trail

This week I'm enjoying a mini-vacation at Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii, tagging along with a friend who really does deserve a short break. And so, the last two days I've been running at dawn along the "King's Trail".

This improbably straight path runs for 32 miles north of Kona. It was built in the 19th century by forced native Hawaiian labor for the benefit of cowboy mule trains, running across a rugged, empty expanse of 'a'a lava.

Sunrise is magical.

The adjacent lava field is forbidding.

Down a side road, there's a tropical shoreline.

This stand of palms at WeliWeli Point looks like an oasis.

The rugged coastline makes for a difficult return trail.

Given a choice, the King's Trail provides an easier passage.

2 comments:

Hattie said...

Very austere and awe-inspiring and quite a contrast to to the Hilo side of the island.

janinsanfran said...

Yes, Hattie, it sure is. I'm probably a more natural fit for your side of things, but this is one of my friend's "home places."